Volume of generated waste Japan FY 2022, by type

In the fiscal year 2022, around 40 million metric tons of waste were generated in Japan. Amounting to over 28.4 million metric tons, household waste made up the largest volume of generated waste, while business-related waste constituted a smaller amount. 

Household waste in Japan

In recent years, containers and packaging materials made up the majority of the household waste volume in Japan. Over half of the packaging in household waste was plastic. In Japan, plastic packaging is commonly used for food and beverage containers. The popularity of takeaway food boxes from supermarkets and PET bottles from vending machines contribute to plastic waste generation. Consequently, plastic waste pollution has become a major environmental issue.

Waste treatment methods in Japan

With the incineration rate of municipal waste amounting to close to 75 percent, incineration remains the most widely used waste treatment method in Japan, as it can easily reduce the volume of waste. Despite filtering technologies, the incineration process generates greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to air pollution and global warming.
The overall recycling rate of waste remained low at around 20 percent throughout the past decade. The remaining waste that cannot be recycled or incinerated is disposed of as landfill. However, Japan is facing a shortage of landfill sites as the remaining capacity of landfill sites keeps shrinking.